This is the latest in a series of occasional posts featuring books I read years ago about which I was wildly enthusiastic at the time, wanting to press a copy in as many hands as I could.
I remember being pitched Helen Oyeyemi’s The Icarus Girl back in 2005 when I was the reviews editor for Waterstone’s Books Quarterly. There was a story attached to this novel, the kind publicists’ dreams are made of. It was written in secret in a whirlwind seven months while Oyeyemi was a schoolgirl, studying for her A levels. She signed a two-book contract on the day she got her results and is now a celebrated author. Unsurprisingly there was a good deal of hype around Oyeyemi’s debut which can so often result in disappointment but not with this one.
Jessamy Harrison is a frightened, lonely little girl afflicted with panic attacks. After a particularly disturbing episode, her parents take her to meet her mother’s family in Nigeria. Here Jess finds herself drawn to the old servants’ quarters where she meets the mysterious Titiola, or TillyTilly as Jess decides to call her. Emboldened by TillyTilly, Jess becomes more confident. When the family returns home Jess is bereft but TillyTilly has followed her. All sorts of strange and unexplained events occur, gradually becoming more sinister as TillyTilly ‘gets’ all those who threaten or hurt Jess. But TillyTilly wants something in return and Jess finds herself desperately trying to escape the strange little girl who invades her life, her dreams and even herself.
I commissioned Lesley Glaister to review The Icarus Girl, herself no slouch when it comes to scaring her readers silly. She ended her review with this: ‘I was actually trembling when I put it down and had to keep the light on all night. I think it’s the most haunting and disturbing novel I’ve ever read.’
What about you, any blasts from the past you’d like to share?
You can find more posts like this here.
What a great idea for a series of posts! I find it very interesting to re-read things that I enjoyed many years ago to compare my reactions/assessments to them over time. Since I generally pick things I read as a teenager, my assessment in later life isn’t usually this positive!
Helen Oyeyemi is one of those writers I’ve been meaning to read since she first surfaced a decade or so ago (like Tolkien’s Ents, I tend to take my time!); in fact, I now have Gingerbread lurking on my TBR pile. You’ve made this one sound so enticing, however, I may begin with it. . . . .
Delighted to hear that! This blog tends to be all about the shiny and new so it’s easy to forget the books that captivated me back in the day. You’re right about rereading, though. Not always a happy experience although sometimes a revealing one.
I was blown away by this book which I read with a book club. I’ve never read any other books by this author but perhaps I should.
Extraordinary, isn’t it, even without the knowledge that she must have been seventeen or eighteen while writing it. I’d say it’s still my favourite but I’d recommend Mr Fox.
Thanks, Susan.
This is still on my TBR list!
One for when you fancy being scared witless!
Interesting! I’ve just put Mr Fox on my list to read this month. I’ve never read Oyeyemi before – this sounds wonderful!
I loved Mr Fox, Cathy. I hope you do, too. Maybe you’ll add this one to the TBR…
Don’t tempt me 🙂
I can’t help myself!
I still haven’t tried Oyeyemi. I’ve wondered if she’d be a good author to read for book club, or if people would be too put off by magic realism. Is there one of her books you’d say is most accessible? (With apologies if I’ve asked this before; I can’t remember if it’s you I’ve discussed Oyeyemi with before!)
Me, neither, but my pandemic brain is beginning to forget what day it is so it may have been me! You might like to try Mr Fox if this one doesn’t appeal. I think that would make an interesting book club choice.
Glaister’s comment makes me wonder whether I should reread this one; I just don’t remember being that profoundly disturbed. More, unsettled? Maybe I was reading too many horror novels at the time. (FWIW, Glaister is another of my MRE authors, but I am terrifically behind.)
I found it profoundly creepy but I don’t read much in the way of horror which may explain my reaction.
I’m so pleased to hear that about Glaister, one of those sadly overlooked writers.
I tried a different novel by Helen Oyeyemi – Gingerbread – and had to give up on it. I had absolutely no idea what she was trying to say.
I’ve not read that one, Karen, but I’ve not enjoyed everything she’s written. Mr Fox is excellent, though.